Your cat has diabetes mellitus. You're not alone, an estimated 1 in 500 cats develops diabetes.
During digestion food is broken down into components that can be used by the body. Carbohydrates (starches) are converted into various sugars, including glucose. Glucose absorbed from the intestines into the bloodstream provides the body cells with energy.
Glucose can only enter most cells if the hormone insulin is present. Insulin is produced by specific cells in the pancreas, a gland situated near the intestines.
Feline diabetes, diabetes mellitus or “sugar diabetes” is caused by a lack of available insulin.
Feline diabetes is caused by:
The results are:
Feline diabetes has been diagnosed in cats of all ages, sexes and breeds.
Diabetes most typically occurs in older cats. Castrated male cats are most commonly affected.
There is no breed predisposition amongst cats. A higher incidence of feline diabetes in Burmese cats has been reported in Australia and the UK.